One of the questions we're asked most often is whether our safaris are private.
The answer is yes. Every safari we organise in Yala Block 5 and Block 6 is completely private, and we've chosen to keep it that way from the beginning.
That doesn't mean we think every safari should be private. In fact, shared safaris are the right choice for many people. They're usually more affordable, they're a nice way to meet other travellers, and for someone who's simply looking to experience Yala for the first time, they can be an excellent option.
We've simply chosen a different approach because we feel it suits the kind of experience we want to create.
Before explaining why, it's probably worth talking about what a private safari actually means, because it's one of those phrases that's often used without much explanation.
For us, a private safari simply means the jeep is reserved for your group alone. If you're travelling as a couple, it'll just be the two of you. If you're travelling as a family, it'll just be your family. If you're travelling with friends, it'll just be your friends. We don't combine separate bookings, even if there are empty seats available.
On the surface, that might not seem like a particularly important difference.
But once you're inside the park, it changes the entire rhythm of the day.
Every safari involves small decisions. You might come across a family of elephants feeding quietly beside a reservoir. Some people would be happy to stay there for another fifteen minutes. Others might already be hoping to continue looking for something else. One guest might become excited by every bird they see, while another may be hoping to cover more ground.
None of those preferences are wrong.
They're simply different.
When several groups who have never met before are sharing the same vehicle, those differences naturally mean compromises. That's simply part of a shared safari, and for many people it works perfectly well.
A private safari is different because those compromises disappear.
The day follows your interests, your pace and your decisions. If you would like to spend longer watching elephants, you can. If birdlife is something you enjoy, we can stop whenever something interesting appears. If you simply want to sit quietly for a while and take in the surroundings, there's no reason to rush away because somebody else has different plans.
That slower pace is one of the reasons we enjoy operating in Yala Block 5 and Block 6.
People often ask why we specialise in these parts of the park instead of Block 1, especially since Block 1 is much better known for leopard sightings.
The reason is actually quite simple.
Because leopard sightings are much less frequent in Block 5 and Block 6, these areas generally receive far fewer safari vehicles. Naturally, most jeeps choose to spend their day where leopard sightings are more likely.
That creates a very different atmosphere.
You're generally not competing with dozens of vehicles trying to reach the same sighting. There isn't the same pressure to move from one place to another because another driver has reported something over the radio. If you find wildlife that's interesting to you, there's often the freedom to stay there a little longer and simply enjoy the moment.
We think that's one of the nicest things about these quieter parts of Yala.
Some of the memories people share with us afterwards aren't about a rare sighting at all. They're about sitting quietly while elephants fed nearby. Watching deer slowly emerge from the forest. Listening to birds calling across a reservoir as the sun began to drop.
Those moments can't be planned.
They simply need time.
Those moments can't be planned. They simply need time. And that's much easier when the day isn't being shaped by crowds.
And that's much easier when the day isn't being shaped by crowds or by the feeling that you always need to be somewhere else.
Planning a safari in Yala Block 5 or Block 6?
We plan everything personally and reply on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.
By this point, another question usually comes up.
If the safari is private, why does it cost more?
It's a fair question, and we think it's important to answer it honestly.
The difference isn't because you're paying for luxury.
It's simply because the entire jeep, together with the driver and guide, is reserved exclusively for your group. Those costs aren't shared with other travellers because there aren't any other travellers in the vehicle.
What you're really paying for is the flexibility that comes with that.
The freedom to spend a little longer somewhere because you're enjoying it. The ability to stop whenever something catches your interest. The chance to experience the park at a pace that feels comfortable for your group rather than one that has to suit several different groups at the same time.
Whether that's worthwhile is something only you can decide.
Some travellers genuinely prefer sharing a safari. They enjoy meeting new people, they're happy to be flexible, and the lower cost makes it possible to include Yala in their trip. We completely understand that, and we're glad those options exist because they allow more people to experience these wonderful national parks.
Our approach is simply different.
We've decided to organise only private safaris because we believe that's the best way to offer the kind of experience we're trying to create in Block 5 and Block 6.
Naturally, that means our prices are usually higher than a shared safari, but that isn't because we believe one experience is better than the other. They're simply different experiences, designed for different travellers with different priorities.
If a shared safari feels like the right choice for you, we'd much rather you choose that and have a wonderful day than book something that doesn't match what you're looking for.
On the other hand, if having the jeep to yourselves, moving at your own pace and enjoying a quieter, more personal safari sounds like the experience you're hoping for, we'd be delighted to welcome you.
If you're still unsure which option would suit you best, feel free to send us a message on WhatsApp. Tell us a little about your plans, who's travelling with you and what you're hoping to experience. We'll happily talk through the different options with you and give you our honest thoughts, even if we think another type of safari or another part of Yala would be a better fit. That's always far more important to us than simply making a booking.
Thinking about a safari in Yala Block 5 or Block 6?
The best way to find out if it suits what you are looking for is to ask. We reply personally on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.